Metrc Retail ID allows dispensaries to scan state-issued QR codes directly into carts at the point of sale for item-level tracking. In this article, we'll guide you through enabling the feature, understanding how Retail IDs work, and scanning them into Cashier so your team can stay compliant with minimal effort.
💡 Note: Metrc Retail ID is available for any state that uses Metrc. It is currently required for dispensaries in New York and Missouri. Check with your state regulator for the latest requirements.
Understand Metrc Retail IDs
Before getting started, it helps to understand what a Retail ID is and how it differs from a package tag:
A package tag is the regulatory identifier assigned to a batch of inventory in Metrc. Multiple units within a batch share the same package tag.
A Retail ID is a unique QR code assigned to each individual unit within a package. Each unit has its own distinct Retail ID, even when the units share the same package tag. Think of the package tag as the label on the whole shipment, and the Retail ID as the serial number on each individual item inside.
Retail IDs are assigned upstream by the supplier or manufacturer before the product reaches your dispensary. There is nothing your team needs to do to place a Retail ID onto a package — the QR codes arrive already attached to the products.
💡 Tip: If a product arrives without a Retail ID or with an incorrect one, contact your supplier. Retail IDs are configured upstream and cannot be created or modified at the dispensary level.
Before You Begin
To use Metrc Retail ID in Flowhub, confirm the following:
Metrc integration is active. Your store must have an active Metrc integration with valid API keys. See Add Metrc API Keys if you need to set this up.
A Regulatory Admin is assigned with a valid API key. In Store Settings under Regulatory Compliance, a Metrc Regulatory Admin must be configured with a valid API key. Flowhub uses this connection to pull Retail IDs from Metrc.
Metrc permissions are configured. The Manager role in Metrc requires the Product Labels - Manage permission under the Packages page. See Required Permissions for Metrc Integration for the full list.
No additional Flowhub role permissions are required beyond the standard to scan items into the cart using a Retail ID.
Enable the Retail ID Setting
To start receiving Retail IDs on your inventory, enable the lookup setting in Store Settings.
Navigate to Store Settings > Regulatory Compliance.
Enable Automatically Look Up External Inventory IDs When Saving Inventory Items.
Once this setting is enabled, Flowhub will automatically pull Retail IDs from Metrc whenever new inventory is imported from the regulator and saved.
✏️ Note: This setting only pulls Retail IDs when inventory is imported directly from Metrc (for example, through a manifest import). If inventory is uploaded via CSV, Retail IDs are not pulled automatically. Contact Flowhub support if you need Retail IDs associated with inventory that was added by CSV or created before this setting was enabled.
💡 Tip: This setting should be enabled for all dispensaries in states where Metrc Retail ID is required. Once the toggle is on, Retail IDs will begin flowing into Maui automatically as packages are received and saved — no additional steps are required on each inventory item.
For more details on all available Store Settings, see Managing Store Settings.
Scan a Retail ID into a Cart
Once the setting is enabled and your inventory has Retail IDs, budtenders can scan them directly into a cart in Cashier — the same way they would scan a SKU or UPC barcode.
Inventory items with Retail IDs display a Has Metrc Retail ID icon next to the product name in the Cashier inventory view. This confirms the item is ready to be scanned by Retail ID.
To scan a Retail ID into a cart:
In Cashier, open a cart.
Make sure your cursor is not in the search bar.
Scan the Retail ID QR code on the product.
Flowhub will look up the associated inventory item and add it to the cart.
✏️ Note: Retail IDs do not need to be added to the SKU field on the inventory item. Because each unit's Retail ID is unique (even when units share the same package tag), Flowhub resolves batch selections dynamically at the time of the scan.
💡 Tip: Unlike the LucidID integration, scanning the same Retail ID QR code a second time will add another unit of the item to the cart rather than prompting you to remove it. Make sure your team scans each unit's QR code only once to keep cart quantities accurate.
Verify a Package Has a Retail ID
After importing inventory from Metrc with the setting enabled, you can confirm that Retail IDs were saved successfully.
Navigate to Inventory or open the Cashier inventory view.
Locate the inventory item you want to check.
Look for the Has Metrc Retail ID icon next to the product name.
If the icon is present, Retail IDs have been saved to the item and the QR codes on the physical products are scannable in Cashier.
If the icon is not present, confirm that the Automatically Look Up External Inventory IDs When Saving Inventory Items setting was enabled before the inventory was imported, and that the inventory was imported from Metrc (not uploaded via CSV).
💡 Tip: If a Retail ID QR code does not scan successfully, confirm that the setting is enabled and that the inventory item was imported from Metrc after the setting was turned on. If the issue persists, contact your supplier to verify the Retail ID was assigned correctly in Metrc, or reach out to Flowhub support for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to manually enter Retail IDs on each inventory item?
No. Once the Automatically Look Up External Inventory IDs When Saving Inventory Items setting is enabled, Flowhub pulls Retail IDs from Metrc automatically when inventory is imported from the regulator. No manual entry is needed.
Does this setting work for inventory uploaded by CSV?
No. Retail IDs are only pulled automatically when inventory is imported directly from Metrc. If you uploaded inventory via CSV or the inventory was created before the setting was enabled, contact Flowhub support to have Retail IDs associated retroactively.
Can I add a Retail ID to the SKU field on an inventory item?
You do not need to. Each unit's Retail ID is unique, so it cannot be stored as a single SKU on the inventory item. Flowhub resolves Retail IDs dynamically when scanned in Cashier.
What happens if I scan the same Retail ID QR code twice?
Scanning the same Retail ID a second time will add another unit of the item to the cart. Unlike the LucidID integration, there is no duplicate-scan prompt for Retail ID. Train your team to scan each unit's QR code only once.
What happens if a product arrives without a Retail ID?
Retail IDs are assigned by the supplier before the product reaches your dispensary. If a product does not have a Retail ID, reach out to your supplier to have it corrected in Metrc.
Which states support Retail ID?
Metrc Retail ID is available for any state that uses Metrc. It is currently required in New York and Missouri. Check with your state regulator or Flowhub support for the latest requirements in your state.
What Metrc permissions are needed for Retail ID?
The Manager role in Metrc requires the Product Labels - Manage permission under the Packages page. No additional Flowhub role permissions are needed beyond the standard to scan items into the cart. See Required Permissions for Metrc Integration for full details.
You did it! 🙌 Your store is now set up to use Metrc Retail ID for compliant, item-level scanning at the point of sale.